The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-28
"What is it. auntie? Why are you

"What is it, auntie9 Why are yor
sad2 Tell me what has happened"
ssIt is nothing, dear. l am foolish
old maid, and it all came of this ugly
gray hair and Margaret took it from it,
place upon the cushion and he'd it up FOL
inspection.
"Dreadful." cried Rosie, with uplifted
hands and comic look of sympathetic
horror upon ner face. "We will look
over the whole list of hair dyes and pre-
pare ourselves to color each one as il
makes its appearance; but guess, dc
guess, auntie, who is here"
'Im not good at guessing, you know,
and how could l tell which one OF youl
numerous lovers is again in, the field"
"For shame, auntie; you know | have
but one lover now. It's Halls father
He is here at last. l wonder what he
will think of me2" and the girl, gently
pushing Margaret aside, placed hersel
in front of the mirror. ''Now, auntlc,
I'm going to take an inventory. Put ii
down and see how it reads. Height five
feet, figure slight and trim, brown hair,
blue eyes, broad forehead, fair complex
ion, pink checks, ruby lips. Am right,
auntiei"
"Quite correct, my love"
"But the nose, auntic, the nose; that
troubles me; it is the one unruly mem
Der; it will turn up. rvehalf a mind to
try Amy's plan and put q clothes-pin on
it. You remember Amy in Little
Women%"
eyes, yes" said Margaret laughing
s'but it is cute nose after ALL"
'I'm not bad looking at any rate, and
you think have not overestimated my
self2" with just little tone of doubt in
her voice.
"No, Rosie, the stock is not watered.
and think you may at least feel assured
of its being taken at par"
! "You knew Major Cole once, didn't
you, Aunt;c, years ago, when he was a
! young man.
eyes," said Margaret, family.
"And wasn't it sad, his wife dying
! when Harry was babyf'
But Margaret made no reply to this
she sat still and white, and returned not
word.
AS she sat wrapped in thought the
past with it's buried joys and griefs came
up before her. She saw gallant youth,
the Major, who looked into her eyes with
. gaze that made her heart beat quickly
and dim, indehnable gladness pervade
her soul. Then his arm encircled her and
in low tones he told her he loved her and
asked her to be his wife. With faltering
accents but with great joy in her heart,
she gave her consent and they were en-
gagged. Another scene rose before her.
She had found fault with him for his
visiting her too seldom and he retorted
sharply. Bitter words were spoken on
both sides which would have been un-
spoken had they loved each other less.
Then he left in an unreasonable burst of
rage and, vowing that their engagement
was at an end, sailed for In
dia. He seemed to have forgotten Mar
garet, for he married lady there whom he
had met on the voyage. His wife's
health became impaired, and they sailed
to the Majors old home, where she gave
birth to boy, the Hal of my story. She
died shortly after, and the Major after
wear or two was sent for to India to set
tie up the affairs of friend. He placed
his son in the care of relative, and
when he went back to India did not re-
turn for many years, but sent an allow
ance for his son regularly every three
months.
But what was all this to Margaret
now2
So he had come home at last-home
to the boy whom he had known only for
the first few years of his lifc--home to
Margaret would not think further. She
would close her heart to all other utter
ance than thoughts of Rosie.
She loved this child-her dead sisters
child. The babe had come into her life
at a time when all around her was
shroudcd in gloom. In the renunciatiou
of a fond hope she had turned to the lit
tie stranger for solace and comfort.
Rosie had been like stray ray Of sun
light in the darkened room. To Margaret
it seemed as if she were now her very
own. She had spoiled the child, per-
haps, but she was so winsome creature
she could not punish her for her tritiing
offences. After while a mother love
crept into her heart, and she was not like
an old maid. A sweetness crept into her
life, feeling of sacred trust. The bit
terness vanished, and when Ma or Cole
returned for brief visit to leave his
little son with his mother, Margaret was
ready to give the little one a portion of
her heart. The boy had loved her from
the moment he began to distinguish
faces.
The hand of an infinite destiny had
shaped their lives. 1t was not Marga-
ret's desire to have the two young peo.
pie thrown together, but they met and
naturally fell in love with each other,
and no one knew the pain their love
making had caused her.
She schoolcd herself to meet the MAJOR
this time, and externally at least was
calm. His coming was deferred from
time to time, so when at last he called
upon her she was prepared to betray no
emotion.
He was handsome man of forty-tive
who had seen only the bright side of life.
Yet, used as he was to society, his man
ncr was constrained when he met Mar
sarct, he had meant to be formal, but
when she went forward to meet him she
seemed so little changed, SO like the
Margaret of old, that the blood rushed
to his face and he stammered out:
"Miss Mar Margaret"
"William." she said, calmly, as if the
uttcrance caused her no effort, ''you will
let me welcome you to my home again;
and Rosie /" here she turned and drew